Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief G Madhavan Nair and his successor K Radhakrishnan may have had public spats over the ISRO-Devas deal, but both seem to be on the same page when it comes to the RSS.

On Sunday, Radhakrishnan, who served as ISRO chief from November 2009 to December 2014, was the chief guest at an RSS event, Swaranjali, in Bengaluru. Earlier this month, Nair, a regular at RSS events for the last one year, was the chief guest at another RSS event, Vishwa Sangh Shivir, in Indore.

For both, the association with the RSS started post-retirement, and in times of trouble. In 2012, the UPA government had barred Nair, a Padma Vibhushan awardee, and a few other space scientists for their alleged role in the ISRO-Devas controversy.

That same ISRO-Devas case has now come to haunt Radhakrishnan. In October last year, he was questioned by the CBI, which began a probe in May last year, alleging wrongful gain of Rs 578 crore to the Bangalore-based Devas Multimedia which wanted to start satellite-based multimedia services in the country.

Devas had entered into an agreement with ISRO’s marketing arm, Antrix Corporation, in 2005 for lease of 90 per cent of transponder capacity on two satellites that ISRO was yet to launch. The agreement was cancelled by Antrix in 2011, citing security concerns. Devas had contested the decision and taken the matter to an arbitration panel which, in September last year, slapped a fine of about Rs 4,400 crore (USD 672 million) on Antrix for unilaterally terminating the contract.

Nair is also likely to be questioned by the CBI at a later stage. He was the ISRO chairman when the agreement was finalised, while Radhakrishnan was at its helm when it was cancelled.

Once considered close — Nair is said to have handpicked and groomed Radhakrishnan to become his successor — the two scientists had a public falling out in the wake of the controversy. Radhakrishnan blamed the previous dispensation for getting into an agreement that seemed to favour a private company, while Nair accused Radhakrishnan of personal vendetta and misleading the government.

Last week, former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon told The Indian Express that action against Nair was “proportionate” to what had been found against him, and dismissed suggestions that subsequent inquiry committees had only found procedural lapses against him. “If you look at what was actually done, it was proportionate to what was found… (the lapses) were a bit more than procedural… I am glad that what we did at that time was to protect the (space) programme… I think we dealt with it well,” Menon said at the Idea Exchange programme.

Menon also said he did not see anything wrong with the CBI inquiry against celebrated scientists. “I think if there was wrongdoing, it deserves an inquiry. There is nothing wrong with it. They (the investigating agency) need to look into it,” Menon said.

On his association with the RSS, Nair said he appreciates the work the Sangh is doing in uniting the country and popularising ancient Indian science. “They are trying to make Indians proud of their past achievements. They are doing a lot of work in uniting the country. I get invited sometimes to speak at their functions. I particularly like to speak to children about science, spread awareness about what we have achieved in science — in ancient times as well as now,” he told The Indian Express. Nair also serves as a patron to Vijnana (read as Vigyan) Bharati, an RSS-backed body to promote science.

Radhakrishnan could not be reached for a comment.

Manmohan Vaidya, All India Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, said both Nair and Radhakrishnan had done great work for the country, and welcomed their association with the RSS. “Those who think of the country’s interest are connected with the RSS. A P J Abdul Kalam also attended RSS events,” Vaidya told The Indian Express.

Vaidya said neither Nair nor Radhakrishnan were swayamsevaks. “The Sampark Vibhag of RSS runs an outreach programme, Sajjan Shakti, in which swayamsevaks meet prominent personalities from various fields. Both these scientists have been invited to deliver lectures,” he said.

Though Radhakrishnan does not hold any position in Vijnana Bharati, its secretary general A Jayakumar said he was “part and parcel” of the organisation. “An ideology of Indianness is flowing through RSS philosophy in the scientific community,” Jayakumar said.

Does any one really think a commie or a Congi smart enough to lead anything that require true and result oriented inputs for greater public good? Wouldn't they become communal if they use brain and logic?

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Abdul Rahman

Jan 12, 2016 at 5:47 am

BJP may be looking for a new face in Kerala to lead the front sidelining the present leadership in Kerala and seek help from RSS to find a suitable candidate. Both Radhakrishnan and Madhavan Nair, both on cards, but they have personal issues which keep them away. RSS may be trying to rope in both and defuse the differences between them and then promote one as their face for the next election. Preparation underway.

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Vikrant

Jan 12, 2016 at 2:52 am

How was the deal signed without UPAs governments knowledge? This department was headed by the scholar and honest PM of UPA who was fooled by all his ministers and allowed lakhs of crores of loot to take place. This is another murky deal carried out by UPA and blamed on someone else's head. Media trial ensuring that a person is annunced convict before trial

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Anandan

Jan 12, 2016 at 2:23 pm

It is proved politics is the last resort of scoundrels

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Kris

Jan 12, 2016 at 6:32 am

Abdul Rahman, both of them are well renowned scientists and greatly contributed to the development of space technology in India. They are intelligent but simple and their aim is only to advance India's position as a front runner in science and technology. So, naturally they are patriots to the core. If they have evinced any interest in the RSS, they would have studied the organization pretty well before ociating with them. Even though media always tries to paint RSS in the dark, my feeling is that it is a nationalist organization and do not do anything which causes any trouble in the social fabric of the society. In fact, they do a lot more good than any other organization. Both these renowned scientists had worked with the government of UPA they know very well how they always try to ignore India's glorious past especially before the marauders arrived and destro our great contribution to the humanity. There is nothing wrong in reviving those wonderful heritage. As top ranking scientists they would have found some merits in these. If you are referring to politics in Kerala, Kerala's majority community has been taken for a ride by the minority communities depriving the majority of their legitimate rights. For several decades, the Congress and Communists have been pampering the minorities and the majority community has been reduced to non player in Kerala politics. Since how long have the minority been enjoying some of the plum ministerial posts and these positions have been misused by them. It is now natural for the majority community to unite and fight for their legitimate rights. Kerala has now become the ideal ground for fundamentalism and has a good support base for jihadist elements. So these need to be looked into as it is the majority community which will be seriously impacted by such radicals.